Prediction of adolescent aggression by childhood personality measures: a comparison of projective procedures, self-report tests, and behavior ratings.

Projective procedures, self-report measures, and teacher behavior ratings were compared as to which type of assessment best predicted adolescent aggressive behavior 6 years after they were administered. A questionnaire that assesses aggressive behavior was given to 125 adolescents in grades seven through twelve who had been administered a variety of projective, self-report, and teacher ratings of aggression 5 years earlier. Their parents were given the same questionnaire. Controlling for sex, age, and academic ability, the results indicated that children's scores on the projective measures predicted aggressive behaviors 5 years later. In addition, projective procedures were at least as valid as the other types of assessments in predicting aggressive behaviors. Results suggest that criticisms of projective procedures may be addressed with continued efforts to evaluate their validity.